One lakh people lost jobs due to mining ban: Gowda

Bangalore: One lakh people have lost their
jobs in Karnataka and the state will suffer an annual revenue
loss of Rs 4,000 crore due to the ban on mining in Bellary
District, Karnataka Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda on Wednesday
said while expressing concern over the situation.

He was responding to a question on the Central Empowered
Committee (CEC) recently recommending to the Supreme Court
that it extend the ban on mining in the districts of Tumkur
and Chitradurga, as was done in Bellary.

Speaking at a meet-the-press programme, Gowda said the
Supreme Court`s judgement on the issue would be accepted and
obeyed but added: "We are a little bit worried because nearly
one lakh people have lost their jobs all over Karnataka and
nearly Rs 4,000 crore coming to the state exchequer (will not
come now)."

"These are things we are little bit worried (about). But
certainly we will look into how to manage all this," he added.
Gowda, however, said the state`s finances were sound.

Direct tax collection in April-July this year had gone up to
Rs 14,358 crore, from Rs 11,950 crore in the same period last
fiscal, reflecting a 20 per cent growth.

On July 29, the apex court ordered suspension of mining
and transportation of iron ore from Bellary district taking
note of CEC`s report which said most of the miners in the
region were indulging in illegal mining causing considerable
environmental damage.